Loaded tater tots are always a crowd-pleaser, whether you serve them up as a snack or a side dish! Crispy tater tots are topped with a creamy ranch sauce, bacon, and plenty of melty cheese.
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Pin RecipeTater tots are a fun side dish to serve with a burger or hot dogs, but if you really want to take them to the next level, then it’s time to make this recipe for loaded tater tots.
A variation of totchos (AKA nachos made with tater tots), loaded tater tots are a delicious, indulgent party appetizer or side dish made with crispy tater tots topped with a tangy sour cream ranch sauce, crispy bacon, and melted cheese. They’re sure to be a hit at any gathering, or even for a weeknight dinner.
I mean: tater tots, bacon, ranch, and cheese! What’s not to love, right?!
Cheesy Loaded Tater Tots Recipe
Making loaded tater tots is easy—you only need a few simple ingredients including frozen tater tots, your favorite ranch dressing, bacon, and cheese. If you don’t have them on hand already, they’re probably all things you buy and use often!
Simply bake the tater tots according to the package instructions. Once they’re ready, broil all that cheese on top until it’s melty, bubbling, and browning in spots, then drizzle on the creamy, tangy ranch sauce. Finish with bacon and green onions and boom, you’ve got yourself an epic tray of loaded tater tots. Yum.
These are an awesome game day snack, and you can customize them with all kinds of different toppings and garnishes. Just be sure to buy another bag of tater tots so you can whip up a second batch once the first batch disappears!
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Ingredients
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Frozen tater tots – Any brand will work here.
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Sour cream – As an alternative, you can use Greek yogurt, which will make the sauce a bit thicker.
- Ranch dressing
- Shredded Mexican-style cheese – A sharp cheddar cheese is also delicious with loaded tater tots.
- Bacon – Cook and chop the bacon before you start the recipe.
- Green onions – Substitute chives for a more mild flavor or minced white or red onion for a stronger onion flavor.
Variations
- Save yourself some time and use store-bought bacon bits instead of cooking the bacon fresh.
- Use a nacho cheese sauce instead of Mexican-style cheese for a spicier, gooey-er dish.
- Top the loaded tater tots with black beans, leftover taco meat, or chili to make them a more filling meal.
How to Make Loaded Tater Tots
- Cook the tater tots: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat it with nonstick spray. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer and cook them according to the package directions.
- Make the ranch sauce: While the tater tots bake, whisk together the sour cream and ranch dressing in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup.
- Broil the cheese: When the tater tots are ready, turn on the broiler. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the tater tots, then return the sheet pan to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the cheese completely melts over the top.
- Finish: Remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the tater tots with the sour cream mixture, then sprinkle on the bacon and scallions before serving.
Quick Tip
If you prefer frying (or air frying) your tater tots to get them extra-crispy, you can cook them that way instead of using the oven. Once they’re cooked, top them with the cheese and put them under the broiler to melt it.
How to Store Leftover Loaded Tater Tots
Loaded tater tots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat them, place them on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they’re hot and crispy again. When reheating, you may want to add a sprinkle of cheese on top if it’s needed to make them extra cheesy and gooey.
Serving Suggestions
Loaded tater tots are a great addition to any meal, or as an appetizer for parties. If you’re serving kids, divide the cheesy tater tots into small bowls and let them have fun adding their own favorite toppings!
FAQs
The best way to make tater tots extra crispy is by baking them in an oven preheated to 400°F. This will give you that perfectly crunchy exterior. You can also air fry or deep fry the tater tots for an even crispier result.
Yes, tater tots are made from real potatoes that have been diced, seasoned, and formed into bite-sized pieces. They’re then cooked for a crispy texture and flavor.
Totchos are a Mexican-style version of loaded tater tots made with tater tots, melted cheese, and various Tex-Mex toppings such as salsa, jalapeños, black olives, and sour cream. They can also be customized with other ingredients like seasoned ground beef or even chicken.
Tater tots are an incredibly versatile ingredient and can be used in a variety of dishes. They make a great side dish with ketchup or fry sauce for dipping, and they’re also a common ingredient in casseroles, like my Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole, Chicken Tater Tot Casserole, and Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole.
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Loaded Tater Tots
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 package frozen tater tots 32 ounces
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese
- 6 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick spray. Arrange the tater tots in an even layer and cook according to the package directions.Nonstick cooking spray, 1 package frozen tater tots
- While the tater tots bake, whisk together the sour cream and salad dressing and set aside.1 cup sour cream, ¼ cup ranch dressing
- Once the tater tots are baked, set the oven to broil. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top, then return to the oven for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese is completely melted over the top.2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese
- Remove from the oven, drizzle with the ranch sauce, then sprinkle over the bacon and green onions to serve.6 slices bacon, 2 green onions
Do I use dry Ranch Seasoning or Prepared Ranch Salad Dressing?..
We use prepared dressing!
These were good but the cooking spray made the Tots greasy. Next time I’ll do as I always do, which is to just use Parchment paper.
Sorry to hear this. Just a light spray should do, but parchment paper is a great alternative! We hope you give it another try. 😊
Thinking of draining a can of black beans and adding them as a topping to these “tatchos”???